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From: Phil Vogler <>
Subject: [NS-L] Captain Zacharie Surette, Gallant Deed of 1896 Re-Told
Date: Wed, 19 Jun 2002 23:13:04 -0400


Berwick Register,

December 20, 1922

Gallant Deed of ’96 Re-Told

A battered steamship – fifty-two men in open boats – a terrific gale and
wind – a brave skipper and his crew formed the nucleus of a
never-to-be-forgotten tale.

A wild winter storm, a rugged coast, fifty-two driven to the life-boats
from a battered steamship, a fishing schooner with a resolute skipper
and a sturdy crew; these formed the ground-work of a long-to-be
remembered tale, in December, 1896.

The George S. Bontwell, a Gloucester fishing schooner under the command
of Captain Zacharie Surette, sailed from that port early in December,
1896, to Seal Cove, Grand Manan, for a cargo of frozen herring for a
Philadelphia market.

About the same day, the steamer Warwick sailed from Glasgow, Scotland,
for St. John, N.B., and after encountering storms with which she battled
for sixteen days, grounded on the ledges off Grand Manan.

The great billows lashed into fury by the wintry gale dashed against the
doomed ship as she crunched and groaned under their great weight.
Immediately she began to go to pieces.

She was an iron steamship and boat after boat was stove in as the crew
attempted to lower them.

With death staring them in the face the crew finally succeeded in
launching two life-boats.

The crew was divided, 25 in one boat and 57 in the other, in command of
the captain and the first mate.

It was intensely cold with a blinding snow-storm and a high wind, and
the men saw the utter impossibility of making the shore.

The plight of the ill-fated ship was seen by the lighthouse-keeper who
made an appeal to Captain Surette, then in harbor about three days. The
captain responded instantly, declaring his intention of going to the
rescue of the doomed steamer. He called for a volunteer crew. Every
man of his crew promptly offered to go with him and so, close-reefed
before a northeast gale of wind and snow, the little schooner and her
gallant crew set sail.

When they sighted the ship the seas were breaking over her, mast high,
so that Captain Surette knew that no living creature could be aboard
her.

He, therefore, as the squall lifted for a moment, scanned the horizon
for a boat, and espying one, bore down upon it.

It was impossible to get near enough to transfer the men who were almost
helpless from cold and exposure. The fishermen sent out a couple of
dories but finally the captain had to run out a line from his vessel
over the iron support of the air tanks on the life-boats and lasso each
man. One by one were the shipwrecked men drawn through the rough icy
waters to safety. The mate who was in command of the life boat then
gave Captain Surette directions concerning the course of the other boat.

Taking this course the fisherman soon overtook the other boat and the
same method of rescue was adopted.

The whole crew of fifty-two men was snatched from a watery grave that
seemed to be open to swallow them.

The staunch little vessel lay to, as the services of the crew were
necessary to restore life to the exhausted sailors.

Cabin, forecastle and forehold of the schooner were filled with the
half-dozen men and strenuous efforts were made to revive them.

Tearing their quilts and blankets into strips the crew of the Bontwell
began chafing the frozen limbs of the rescued with them. For four hours
they labored until they themselves were exhausted and then they stood in
for the shore.

The people of Seal Cove turned out in a body and gladly assisted the
gallant captain and his crew in transferring the frost-bitten sailors to
the quarters provided for them.

As a result of their experience some of the ship wrecked men lost hands
and feet but fortunately no loss of life ensued.

The underwriters who hastened to the scene, drew up a memorial in which
they set forth the gallant act of Captain Surette and forwarded it to
Her majesty’s government.

In Acknowledgment of his heroism, the British government presented
Captain Surette with a beautiful and useful gift, which was well
deserved and which he prizes highly.

This gift, the writer had the pleasure of viewing.

It consists of binocular glasses of superior make, with a handsome
leather case in which to carry them. They are enclosed in a white wood
case, bearing on a gold shield the following inscription: “Presented by
the British Government to Zacharie Surette, master of the schooner
George S. Bontwell of Gloucester, Massachusetts, in acknowledgement of
his humanity and kindness to the ship-wrecked crew of the British
steamship Warwick, which stranded off the coast of New Brunswick on 31st
of December, 1896.

Captain Surette went to the States from Nova Scotia when quite young and
now resides in Gloucester, Mass.
--
Phil Vogler
P.O. Box 266
Berwick, Nova Scotia
B0P 1E0
http://www.glinx.com/~philv/

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